Edward ingraham



(No Model.)

JAPANNING WOODEN eLoeK GASES. No. 325,543. Patented Sept. 1, 1885 WITNESSES: INVENTOR- KQ. M

ATTORNEY Nv FE'ERS. Phdwulhngnplwr. Wuhingim D. C

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrrcn.

EDW'ARD IN GRAHAM, OF BRISTOL, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE E. INGRAHAM COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

JAPANNlNG WOODEN CLOCK-CASES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 325,543, dated September 1, 1885.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD INGRAHAM, residing at Bristol, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Japanned \Vooden Clock-Gases and Methods of Making Them; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being bad to the accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification.

Heretofore japanued wooden clock cases have been produced by first making the cases, then applying one or more coats of japan to them by immersion in a bath thereof, and then hardening each coat by baking. This method involves the objection that theexcess of japan remaining upon the cases after each immersion in the bath collects upon the edges, corners, and other obstructing surfaces of the cases, whereby the cases are disfigured, and

as these collections occur for each bath the irregularity of the coatings and the consequent disfigurement of the cases is heightened with each coating. 'Moreover, japan being in its nature very hard, the operation of reducing a japanned surface to a state of uniform evenness is one of difficulty, and this difficulty is such that it is practically impossible to ob literate the collections referred to and secure a good surface in a completed case in which the wholearea japanned is broken into small surfaces which must be polished independent ly, with obviously large expenditure of time and labor. FllIll-llElIllOlG, the separate polishing of the small surfaces necessitates repeated handling of each case, and this is not only awkward, but exposes and frequently results in injury to their polished and unpolished surfaces. Again, by immersing the cases each in its entirety in a bath of japan the corners and edges acquire an equally thick and gen erally thicker coating than the remaining portions of the japanned surfaces, becoming, as it were, rounded, whereby all sharpness of outline in the cases is lost, so that, no matter how meritorious the design may be, the lines of the cases are in great measure destroyed, whereby the cases have a heavy appearance. This method also involves baking the cases,

in doing which they are exposed to a very high heat, often distorting them and destroying the life of the glue employed in their construction. All of this results in considerable loss, as the imperfect cases must be permanently rejected. 5 Then,again,the cases, if they come out of the ovens in apparently good condition, are, on account of the deteriorating action of heat upon the glue in them, often subsequently injured by transportatiomand by atmospheric 6o changes'which they are not strong enough to withstand. In the market these cases are readily distinguished by the general unevenness and want of finish in their japanned surfaces, and particularly by the collections of japan upon their edges, corners, and other obstructing surfaces and also by that heaviness of outline before referred to.

My invention relates to an improvement in japanned Wooden clockcases and to methods of making them, and has for its object the avoidance of the above-enumerated objections to the old process and product and the production at a minimum outlay for time, labor, and apparatus of a japanned case of fine 7 5 finish, distinctive appearance, retaining the lines and sharpness of the design, and equal in strength and durability to wooden cases of ordinary finish.

' With these ends in view my invention consists in a japanned wooden clock-case made from lumber japanned in the piece or in case sections and then worked up and assembled.

My invention further comprehends an improvement in the art of making japanned wooden clock-cases, consisting in japanning the lumber in the piece or in case-sections and then working it up into'cases.

My invention further consists in a japanned wooden clock-case having certain other char- 0 acteristics and features, and a method for making such a case having certain other details and steps, as will be hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

The accompanying drawing is a view in 5 front elevation of a japanned wooden clockcase made in accordance with my invention, and having a portion of the japan removed to expose the wood.

As herein shown, the case consists of a wooden frame, A, made from sections of lumber each having an independent coating, B,

ofjapan, and ornamented by engravingO and carving D, wl1ich is gilded, as at F, by paint or gold-leaf. The case is trimmed by the attachment of the dial G- and the frame H, as shown.

In practicing my improved method of makingjapanned wooden clock-cases of the above description, the lumber or stock is got out in suitable form and smooth-surfaced by sand papering, and otherwise prepared either before or after being gotout. The lumber or. stock is then treated, each piece independentlyor afterbeing made into case-sections, to one or more, and preferably several, coatings of japan, applied by immersion in a bath of the material, by a brush, or by any other means, and each coat so applied is hardened by baking. Then the pieces or case-sections are independently rubbed with any suitable abrasive material to smooth their j apanned surfaces. Then the pieces or case-sections are treated to one or more coats of japan, which is hardened by baking and rubbed down, as before. If desired, however, this step in the method may be omitted by providing for a suitable body and finish in the first coats. Then after a heavy body of smooth japan has been secured upon each piece or case -section they are independently treated to one or more finishingcoats of thinner consistence than the material employed for the body-coats, and applied by immersion and hardened by baking. These finishingcoats must be applied through a bath, in order to secure that perfectly smooth and uniform distribution of the japan necessary to the finish of the ease. The pieces or case sections so japanned and finished are then sawed and worked up and assembled into cases.

The ornamental engraving and carving may be done either before or after the lumber is worked up, and before or after the coatings or all of them are put on, while the gilding is preferably done after all of the coatings have been applied, and both engraving and carving may be employed, or either of the two,

forms of decoration may be used alone.

The cases are finished by the application of the trimmings, which may relate, as shown herein,solely to the clock or include others of purely ornamental character.

The application of the japan to the lumber in the piece or as madeinto simple case-sections gives the best possible opportunity of rubbing it to a smooth and uniform surface; for the surfaces to be rubbed being unbroken, or practically so, the rubbing operations are effected not only with the best results as to obtaining a smooth surface, but also with the highest economy of time and labor. The pieces or ease-sections are also very easily handled, and may be rubbed by power, if desired. This facility of rubbing and securing smooth surfaces upon which to apply other coats of japan results in a fine texture for the whole body of the coating. Furthermore, the japanning and finishing of the lumber in the be included in the waste involved in working the lumber intoicases. My improved process also avoids the objections incident to baking the cases, as before set forth. J apanned wooden clock-cases produced under my invention are therefore provided with a coating which is at once even'and uniform, hard and durable, and resisting scratching and similar disfigurement, brilliant in finish, heavy, and of fine texture, and having a depth of effect not obtainable under the old method. The cases are also distinguished by their sharp and clear outlines, which are secured by japanning the lumber in the piece or in case sections and then working it up. It will thus be seen that cases made in accordance with my invention have, in comparison with japanned wooden cases heretofore made, a marked and distinctive appearance, resulting both from the mode of applying and finishing the japan and the structure of the improved case,which is new in this class of goods.

It is apparent that some variations in my process as detailed herein may be made, and I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact method and succession of steps set forth, but hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a japanned wooden clock-ease made from lumber japanned in the piece or in case-sect ons, substantially as set forth.

2. As anew article of manufacture, a japanned wooden cloek-case made from lumber japanned in the piece or incase sections and ornamented by engraving and carving and by gilding, substantially as set forth.

3. An improvement in the art of making japanned wooden clock cases, consisting in japanning the lumber in the piece or in casesections and then working up and assembling the pieces or sections, into cases, substantially as set forth.

4. An improvement in the art of making IIO japanned wooden clockcases, consisting in applying one or more coats of japan to the lumber in the piece or as made into case-sections and hardening each coat bybaking, then smoothing the japanned surfaces by rubbing them, then applying one or more finishingcoats to the pieces or case-sections by immersion in a finishing-bath and hardening each coat by baking, then working up and-assembling the pieces or case-sections into cases and ornamenting and trimming the (Bass, substantially as set forth.

5. An improvement in the art of making 5 japanned' wooden clock cases, consisting in japanning the lumber in the piece or in casesections, then working up and assembling the pieces or case-sections into cases, and carving, engraving, and gilding the lumber either bero fore or after being worked up and assembled,

substantially as set forth.

6. An improvement in the art of making japanned wooden clock-cases, consisting in applying one or more coats of japan to the 15 lumber in the piece or in caseseetions and hardening each coat by baking, then smoothing the japanned surfaces by rubbing them, then engraving and carving the pieces or caseseetions, then applying one or more finishingcoats by immersing them in a finishing-bath and hardening each coat by baking, then working up and assembling the pieces or case-sections into cases,'and gilding the engraved and carved portions of the lumber and trimming the cases, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

EDXVARD INGRAHAM. Ni tn esses WM. S. INGRAHAM, U. A. INGRAHAM. 

